The County Line
 
Recently the North Central Texas Council of Governments (COG) released their 2004 Population Estimates.  COG is comprised of 16 counties which are anchored by the Dallas and Forth Worth urban centers.  According to COG reports, this sixteen county region is larger than 9 states and, with a population of approximately 5.5 million, has more residents than 30 states. 
 
COG only measures cities and towns that are more then 1,000 in population.   Cities that size or smaller and the unincorporated area are listed under “Remainder of Collin County.”  I have requested that COG review these smaller towns and the unincorporated area, especially with the growth of special developer districts.   Listed below are their latest population figures:
 

	Final Census 4/1/70	Final Census 4/1/80	Final Census 4/1/90	Final Census 4/1/2000	Revised Estimated Population 1/1/2003	Estimated Population 1/1/2004	Growth Rate 2003-2004
Collin County	66,920	144,576	264,036	491,675	582,300	615,200	5.65%
Allen	1,940	8,314	19,315	43,554	57,450	62,450	8.70%
Anna	736	855	904	1,225	2,050	3,600	75.61%
Celina	1,272	1,520	1,737	1,861	2,850	3,100	8.77%
Fairview	463	893	1,554	2,644	3,550	4,050	14.08%
Farmersville	2,311	2,360	2,640	3,118	3,150	3,200	1.59%
Frisco	1,845	3,499	6,138	33,714	57,300	66,400	15.88%
Lowry Crossing	NI	443	865	1,229	1,300	1,300	0.00%
Lucas	540	1,370	2,205	2,890	3,300	3,600	9.09%
McKinney	15,193	16,256	21,283	54,369	73,550	82,800	12.58%
Melissa	NI	604	557	1,350	1,700	1,900	11.76%
Murphy	261	1,150	1,547	3,099	6,450	7,650	18.60%
Parker	367	1,098	1,213	1,379	1,500	1,500	0.00%
Plano	17,872	72,331	127,885	222,030	240,300	243,500	1.33%
Princeton	1,105	3,408	2,448	3,477	3,550	3,700	4.23%
Prosper	501	675	1,018	2,097	2,700	3,100	14.81%
Wylie	2,675	3,152	8,716	15,132	21,500	26,150	21.63%
Remainder of Collin County	17,049	18,207	27,693	36,769	43,600	45,300	3.90%
Split Cities**	2,790	8,441	36,318	61,738	56,500	51,900	-8.14%

 
 
Overall, Collin County grew by 32,900 people in 2003.  This averages out to 90 people per day. Anna was the runaway winner in percentage of growth with over 75 percent. In addition, Anna has approximately 4,000 additional lots that are making their way through the approval process as well.
 
 According to the Tax Assessor/Collectors office, Collin County registered 495,698 vehicles in 2003.  Compared to the 2002 numbers of 480,079 this means that last year we added 15, 619 vehicles to our roads—almost 43 per day.
 
These types of numbers are what brought about the Collin County bond packages in 1999 and 2003.  Only two of the 1999 road projects remain and we have sold about $55 million in bonds to begin the 2003 bond projects.  Overall, both bonds total $350 million worth of county projects and were approved by less than 3 percent of the voters.  
 
 
 
 
 

The County Line
 
Last November, Collin County voters approved a $229 million bond package.  This bond package was divided into three areas:  $142 million for transportation, $11 million for open space and $76 million for facilities.  These bonds will be sold over the next five years.  For FY04, Collin County has sold almost $56 million in bonds with over $44 million going to transportation, $2.2 million for open space and $9.2 million for facilities.
 
The $2.2 million for open space is set aside as grant funding for the purpose of partnering with cities in creating and/or adding to their local parks.  Applications for these funds are now being accepted.
 
The $9.2 million for facilities will begin the design and construction of the approximate 350-bed additions to both the adult and juvenile and detention facilities.  These funds will also be used for the design and preliminary construction of a new 14-courtroom facility which will be located off Wilmeth Road.
 
The lion’s share of the bonds sold, $44 million, will fund road expansion projects with most being in partnerships with local cities.  The road projects that will begin expansion/construction for FY04 are listed below:
 
Regional:  Betsy Lane, 4-lane project from Dublin Road to FM 2551
                 SH121, additional funding for the 6-lane expansion
                 FM 2551, 6-lane project from FM 544 to Parker Road
                 Dallas North Tollway, construction of a 2-lane east service road                                   from US 380 to FM 428
 
Allen:  Main Street, 6-lane project from Allen Heights to FM 2551
            Bethany, 6-lane project from US 75 to Allen Heights (already completed)
 
Frisco:  FM 720, 4-lane project from SH 289 to FM 2478
 
McKinney: Airport Drive, construction a new 2-lane arterial from US 380 to south of FM 546
 
Parker:  McCreary Road, 4-lane project from Parker to McWhirter Road
 
Plano:  Plano Parkway East, construction of a new 6-lane arterial from east of Los Rios                    Blvd. to 14^th Street
 
Princeton: CR 458, 2-lane reconstruction from US 380 to FM 1377
 
Richardson:  Brand Road, 4-lane project from Exeter Dr. to the south city limit
                     Infocom Road, construction of a new 4-lane arterial from Plano Road to US                            75
 
Wylie:  Hooper Road, bridge replacement at Maxwell Creek
 
These bonds also include bridge replacement projects on CRs 382, 673, 407, 331, 429, 338 and 590. 
 
Again, this is just Phase I of the bond package.  To see the total list of roads to be constructed over the life of the bond package, please visit my website at www.joejaynes.com  and click on “Projects.”
 
 
 
 
(County Commissioner Joe Jaynes’ email address is jjaynes@collincountytx.gov.)